Pothead device



May 17 l932- P. F. wlLLiAMs 1,859,249

POTHEAD DEVICE Filed June 5, 1929 Patented May 17, 1932 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE PEARSON F. WILLIAMS, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO G &W ELECTRIC SPECIALTY CO., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OFILLINOIS PO THE-AD DEVICE Application filed June 3, 1929.

This invention relates to pothead devices for the connection ofelectrical conductors in general, and more particularly for theconnection of electrical cables and overhead conductors.

The primary object of this invention is to provide, in a pothead orsimilar device, a oating or axially adjustable contact for one of theconductors. y

Other and further objects of this invention will be apparent as the samebecomes better understood from an examination of the spec- -iiicationand claims in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein;

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a single conductor pothead embodyingthis invention;

Fig. 2 is a section taken at the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a modification.

Referring to the drawings more particularly, reference character 4designates a lower tubular insulator member provided with a suitablemounting device 5 consisting of a metallic cup-shaped member enclosingthe lower portion of the member 4 and secured to a supportingbracket 6,which may be attached to some supporting means.

A cable 7 extends upwardly through the bottom of the member 4 and isheld therein by suitable clamping devices, for example, those shown inPatent No. 1,494,202 of P. F'. ViIliams dated May 13, 1924.

A terminal or stem 8 is supported within the hollow tubular member 4 andis provided with a smooth cylindrical upper portion 9 projecting abovesaid member 4, which portion acts as a terminal for the cable 7 which isslidably connected to the stem 8 through the intermediary of acylindrical extension 11 on the upper end of said cable which fitswithin a corresponding recess 12 in the lower end of said stem. The stem8 is provided with an integral collar 13, which is seated in arecess inan annular supporting member 14 and clamped in position by a circularring 15 threaded to said supporting member. This supporting member 14 islheld against a shoulder in the member 4 by means of a ring 16 cementedtherein. Insulating disks 17 are Serial No. 367,884.

held on the upper end of the member 4 by a nut 18 threaded to the stem8.

A cap 19 of insulation material, is lprovided with an inner chamber 21and depending skirtv22 adapted to overlap the upper end of the member 4,and is carried by a connecting device 25 adapted to engage the terminal9 for connecting the cable 7 with an overhead conductor 26 connectedtothe device 25. The c onductor 26 is provided with an end 27 whichextends and is secured into a recess in the upper end of a bolt 28. Thebolt 28 is seated in a suitable opening in `alignment with the cap 19and is provided with a threaded shank 29 in threaded engagement with acylindrical supporting member 31 of the device 25'for supporting thesame.

The device 25 includes a sleeve 32 which forms a floating or axiallyadjustablecontact between said device and the terminal 9 and is formedof two similar longitudinal sections 33 and 34 respectively` eachadapted to cover nearly 180O of the periphery of said terminal andcooperating, when pressed together, to grip the same. The member 31 isprovided with a pair of integral depending arms 35 which act to supportan integral annular extension 36 which surrounds the sleeve 32 and isadapted to resilientlv and pivotally connect therewith by means of apair of oppositely disposed springs 37. These springs are each pivotedby means of a pin 38 to one wall of the annular extension 36 and areprovided with oppositely and inwardly extending ends, each engaged insuitable recesses in the respective sections 33 and 34 for compressingthe sections against the terminal 9 to form a floating contacttherewith.

In addition to the pivotal and yieldable mechanical connection betweenthe sleeve 32 and the annular extension 36 just described, whichconnection is substantially a universal connection, said sleeve andextension are electrically connected together in such a manner as topermit of the device having substantially the same current carryingcapacity as the conductors connected thereby. This electrical connectioncomprises four copper braided members 39, attached by'means of screws 41centrally of their ends at equally spaced positions on the periphery ofthe annular extension 36. The opposite ends of the respecv tiveconducting members 39 are attached to the corresponding ends of thesleeve 32 by means of screws 42. two of said members 39 serving `:to'coimect the extension '86 with the section 33 of the sleeve and theother two of said members 39 serving to connect said extension with thesection 34 .of .said sleeve.

In the modcaton shown 4in Fig, 3, there is illustrated a device 43 whichis identical with the device 25, just described, and which likewiseincludes a sleeve 33 for forming a floating contact.

In this modification the supporting member 45 for the connecting deviceis threaded to the upper end of a vstem 46 of a pothead. In thisinstance the stem 46 and support is substantially the same as the-stemland support therefor in the previous embodiment, the exception beingthat in this case lthe upper end of the stem is threaded for connectionvto the member 45.

A conductor 47 has its end 'secured inthe upper end of a plug 48. Theplug 48 has its upper end secured in an annular insulating member 49 andis adapted to extend into tlie sleeve 44 for electrically connectingvthe condnctor 47' with the cable (not shown) which iseeouredto the lowerend of the stem 46.

"The advantages of the connectin devices 25 and 43 in the aforedescribedcom inations of pothead devices will be apparent without furtherdescription.

I am aware that many changes may be made without departing from theprinciples of this invention and I, therefore, do not wish to be limitedto the details shown or described.

WVhat I claim is:

l. In a device of the character described, in combination with apotiiead, of a 'pair of insulator members and conductors thereon, arigid member adapted to embrace a conductor on one of the members, amember electrically connected to a conductor on the other insulatormember and also flexibly connected to said embracing member, and asubstantially universal mechanical connection between said electricallyAconnected member and said em- -bncing'member said universal connectionincluding bow springs.

2. In a device of the character described, in combination with apothead, of a. pair of insulator members and conductors thereon, a rigidmemberadapted to embrace a conductor en one of the members, a memberelectrically connected to a conductor on the other insulator members andalso .electrically connected to said embracing member, and a yieldablemechanical connection between said electrically connected member andembracirg mem- In a device of the character described, in combinationwith a pothead, of a pair of insulator members and conductors thereon, a

rigid member adapted to embrace a conductor on one of the members, amember electrically connected to a conductor on the other insu latormember and also electrically connected to said embracing member, and asubstantially universal yie'ldabie cormeiorn between said' electricallyconnected member and embracing member.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pair ofinsulator members and conductors thereon, an expansible `member adaptedto embrace a conductor on one of said insulator members, a memberelectrically `connected to a second conductor on theV other insulatormember and also electrically connected to said expansi'ole member, and aconnection between said electrically connected member `and saidexpansible naember for 4resliently connecting them t ther and forcausing the expansible meir to yieidingly engage the conductor embracedthereby for oonnecting'the conductorson said 4insulator memberstogether.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pair ofinsulator members and conductors thereon, an expansible member adapted`to embrace a conductor en one of said insulator members, a. memberelectrically connected to a second conductor on the other insulator and`also electrically connected to said expansible member, an annularextension on said electrically connected member surrounding theexpansible member, and a pair of oppositely disposed springs betweensaid extension and expansible member for causing the latter to embracethe conductor therein for connecting the conductors on said insulatormembers together.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pair ofinsulator members provided with conductors, an expansible member adaptedto embrace a conductor on one of the insulator members, a memberelectricall connected to a. second conductor on the otlier insulatormember and also electrically connected to the expansible member, anannular extension on the electrically connected member surrounding theex ansible member, and a pair of oppositely isposed springs between saidextension and expansible member pivotally and yieldingly connecting saidextension and expansible member for causing 'the latter to embrace theconductor therein to thereby connect the conductors on said insulatormembers.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pair ofinsulator members and conductors thereon, a tubular expansible memberadapted to embrace a conductor on one of the insulator members, a memberelectrically connected to another conductor on the other insulatormember and electrically connected to theexpansible member, and means forpivotaliy connecting said eXpansible member and electrically connectedmember together.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination ofapairofinsulator members and conductors thereon, a tubular expansiblemember adapted to embrace a conductor on one of the insulator members, amember electrically connected to a second conductor on the otherinsulator member also electrically connected to the expansible member,and means for pivotally and yieldingly connecting the electrically7connected and eXpansible member together.

9. A pothead comprising a pair of insulator members having conductorsextending therefrom, a rigid member adapted to embrace a conductor onone of the members, a member electrically connected to a conductor onthe other insulating member and also electrically connected to saidembracing member, a substantially universal yieldable connection betweensaid electrically connected member and embracing member, said universalconnection including a ring member, bow springs mounted thereon and asplit tubular member adapted to be supported thereby.

10. In pothead construction, the combination of male and femaleinsulating members, cables extending from each member, a rigid cableterminal member projecting upwardly from the top of said male insulatingmember, a rigid tubular terminal member extending downwardly from saidfemale member, a ring member resiliently carried thereby, said rigidterminal member adapted to telescopically engage therein to form amechanical connection therebetween, and an electrical connection betweensaid ring member and said tubular terminal `member capable of carrying asurge of current equal to that carried by the cables.

11. In pothead construction, the combination of male and femaleinsulating members, cables extending from each member, a rigid cableterminal member projecting upwardly from the top of .said maleinsulating member, a rigid tubular terminal member extending downwardlyfrom said female member, a split ring member resiliently carriedthereby, said rigid terminal member adapted to telescopically engagetherein to form a mechanical connection therebetween. and' an electricalconnection between said ring member and said tubular terminal membercapable of carrying a surge of current equal to that carried by thecables.

12. A pothead connector comprising male and female insulating members,cables extending from each member, a rigid cable terminal memberextending upwardly from the top of said male insulating member, a rigidtubular terminal member extending downwardly from said female member, acylindrical spring member resiliently carried thereby, said rigidterminal member adapted to telescopically engage therein, and anelectrical connection between said spring member and said tubularterminal member capable of carrying a surge of current equal to thatcarried by the cables.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 28 da of May, A.D. 1929.

PEAR ON F. WILLIAMS.

